Reports: Canadian terror plot targeted Toronto-N.Y.C. train service

Canadian police and intelligence agencies said Monday that they’ve thwarted an Al Qaeda-supported plot that aimed to blow up a passenger rail line, with some news accounts suggesting that the target was train service connecting Toronto and New York City.

Amtrak, which operates a train line between the two cities, issued a statement saying it was “aware” of the investigation. Amtrak President & CEO Joe Boardman said later on Facebook that the alleged plot didn’t pose an “imminent threat to Amtrak passengers, employees or the general public.”

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“Amtrak has a variety of behind-the-scenes and frontline security measures to ensure passenger and employee safety and security,” he said. “Amtrak has explosive detection and vapor wake K-9 teams, trained employees to identify potential security risks, passenger and baggage screenings, and developed strong partnerships with local, state, federal and international agencies.”

A U.S. Justice Department source told The Associated Press that the plot had no connection with last week’s Boston Marathon bombings. But the timing was sure to add to the jitters following last week’s attacks, which led to heightened security on Amtrak and other transit systems, including the New York subway and the D.C. Metro.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Monday that the suspects in the alleged rail plot, Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, conspired to carry out an attack against the Canadian intercity passenger service Via Rail, but posed no immediate threat. The two men live in Montreal and Toronto areas, authorities said.

Amtrak offers several services with connections to Via Rail, including the New York-to-Toronto “Maple Leaf.”

Reuters said that according to unnamed U.S. officials, the suspects had sought to attack passenger rail service between Toronto and New York City.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) praised the Canadians’ actions to thwart the alleged plot.

“I commend our Canadian counterterrorism partner, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for their efforts in stopping a major terrorist plot which was intended to cause significant loss of human life including New Yorkers,” said King, chairman of the House Homeland Security terrorism subcommittee. “During my years on the Homeland Security Committee it has been my privilege to work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian intelligence and all counterterrorism units in Canada.”

This report contains material from The Associated Press.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 5:20 p.m. on April 22, 2013.